Birthday:April 11th 2007Likes:Being with her people, wherever they go; playing at the dog park; going up to the mountains for a hike or a snow play day.Pet-Peeves:Being left behind, having to walk too slowly when on leash, and taking baths.Favorite Toy:With people - fetching tennis balls. With other dogs - rope tug of war!Favorite Food:Taste of the Wild or Solid Gold (or anything her people might share with her)Favorite Walk:Anywhere, as long as she's not on a leash! (Darn those leash laws!)Best Tricks:Sit and downArrival Story:I went to the Orange County Animal Shelter with my older son, who was 18 and about to go into the Air Force. I had a fluffy, white, 15-pound lap dog in mind - an affectionate animal that would keep us busy and help us get over the separation from our son. My son picked out this playful black beast and we fell in love with her! She was labeled as a 5-month-old "Shepherd Mix" and was underweight at 30 pounds. It turns out she was a 4-month-old black German Shepherd, and she now weighs 82 pounds.Bio:Katie was picked up by Animal Control on August 1, 2007. She had crusty, infected injuries on her neck from (apparently) an electronic shock collar. She was not socialized at all; she didn't even know what petting was (she tried to defensively nip us if we tried to pet her). We found a good trainer and gave her lots of love and boundaries, and she is now friendly with people and other dogs. We love her!
Update: When Katie was about a year old, her nose started to disintegrate - it literally started to be eaten away from the inside! The vet diagnosed an autoimmune disease, similar to lupus, and put her on a steriod medication that suppresses her immune system. Her missing section of nose grew back, and she is now on a maintenance dose.
Update Spring 2008: Katie loves to play with her friends at the Orange Dog Park, and has also been to the parks in Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Irvine, and Huntington Beach. She loves going up to play in the snow at Big Bear, but she's not so crazy about Dog Beach... she plays with the other dogs just fine, but she doesn't like to get her paws wet! Silly girl!
Update November 2008: Katie has had two sheep-herding classes in Anaheim Hills with Jerome Stewart (he was featured in the first season of the Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, and he teaches any breed how to herd sheep). She LOVES to chase the sheep, and is doing well, learning the commands.
Update August 2009: Our vet said that if Katie had another dog in the house, a young neutered male for her to "mother" and teach the rules to, she would be less stressed and might do better with her symptoms of lupus. As you can see from Katie's family link, she has a new puppy named Rupert, who was found on a golf course in Riverside County, CA. We took Katie out to the rescuer's home to meet Rupert, and they got along really well. He is now an important part of our family, and the great news is that we've been able to take Katie off the steroids completely! She has lost a few pounds and that "puffy" look, and has a high level of energy and alertness again. By keeping her busy, and happy, during the day, Rupert has become the best prescription that Katie's ever had!Forums Motto:Infinite BrainMentor dog:When Katie was a year and a half old, her trainer invited her to a group class. She met several dogs with leash aggression issues, and we discovered that she knew exactly how to behave with them to calm them down. I was so proud of my smart girl! She has served as a mentor dog for several dogs who needed to learn better canine manners.